St. Johns River Water Management District

The St. Johns River Water Management District is one of five regional agencies in Florida that have authority to tax, issue water permits and regulate wetlands. The nine members of the St. Johns board meet monthly at headquarters in Palatka, Fla. They are appointed by the governor, a system sometimes criticized as giving too much power to non-elected officials. The district, run by about 700 employees, includes the St. Johns River basin in 18 counties from Georgia to Okeechobee County.